Freight Integration Module - Easypost
Snapshot:
- Customer needs to reach out to individual carrier that they use and ask their account credentials
- Customer needs to set up individual carrier account that they use in EasyPost. (You need the API key as per the above step to create a carrier account)
- Customer has to set up EasyPost using this UTM Link. Please reach out to EasyPost if you register not with the provided link
- Follow the step in Linking 2 systems to link printIQ and EasyPost. Alternatively, we can set it up for you using Care Package.
If you are using EasyPost. It is imperative to disable ratings.
Find out how to disable rating via this URL
Setting up the Automated Freight Module with Easypost
Overview
This document covers the tasks around setting up the Automated Freight with Easypost and printIQ.
Before you can start, we need to cover a few touch points.
- You need to have purchased the freight integration module with printIQ. If this module has not been purchased, please discuss with your printIQ Account Manager.
- You need to ensure you have an account with Easypost.
You must sign up via the UTM link: https://www.easypost.com/signup?utm_source=PrintIQ
Easypost
To create the Carrier Accounts for the freight suppliers subscribed to, their respective API credentials must be entered, as this drives which Carrier will provide pricing for the freight rate calls.
With no carrier accounts set up there will be no rates returned.
After logging into the Easypost website, click on the username and select Carrier Accounts from the drop-down menu:
This will show all connected carriers (if configured).
Selecting a carrier from the list on the Right-Hand Side opens a modal prompting for credentials.
Credentials for each carrier will be different and need to be obtained from the carrier companies.
Once all required fields have been filled out, click ‘Add’:
Once added, the supplier will appear on the main Carrier Accounts page:
Once all carriers are set up, click on the username and this time select ‘API Keys’ from the drop-down menu:
Click ‘Show’ to see the API Keys.
Copy the keys (both Production and Test) and use them to configure Easypost in printIQ.
The ‘Test’ API key will use the linked accounts to return relevant rates but will create voided consignments in Easypost.
TouchPoints
Once the Easypost setup and configuration have been completed, you can start setting up the integration with printIQ.
The following touchpoints are areas in the system where we need to visit.
- Creating the Freight Integration Link
- You will need the following from Easypost
- An API Key
- URL
Do I need to create Freight Supplier Records?
In short No,
EasyPost links to over 70 freight suppliers globally. Each EasyPost integration to printIQ will include at least one Carrier Account.
Also, EasyPost tracking URLs are generated within EasyPost. We do not require a link to a Freight Supplier record to bring the Tracking URL onto the email.
Linking the two systems together
To set up the Freight Automation, click on the Admin menu and select Integration under Freight:
Here you will be able to select the integration you are after. In this case, select EasyPost:
It is here that you will need the API Key and URL details from Easypost generated above.
It looks like something similar as : https://api.easypost.com/v2
Please reach out to EasyPost support team if you can't find the API URL.
Please note: The customer must link the relevant Carrier Accounts in Easypost or the integration will not work
Once you have added the correct information you will need to save it.
A list of Easyposts’ Delivery Types will be loaded from their website and cached in printIQ. This includes ALL Easypost Delivery Types for ALL Carriers,
However only the carriers you have a subscription to and configured above will return pricing.
Grouping the rates
To ‘Group’ the rates when they appear on the quote, open standard Freight Admin and add the required Delivery Methods.
How this is done is dependent on the structure you want to see when quoting.
Below we have added Easypost (USPS).
If there were other Easypost subscriptions, you can add them here too:
In the ‘Delivery Types’ tab, the delivery types from EasyPost are pulled through from the Freight Integration.
Here you can link the Freight Method created above, set the minimum charge, the GL Account to link to (which can be used to control the freight tax rate),
and the amount of markup that you would like to apply to each of the Delivery Types.
I f you wish to add 15 percent, then type 15 in the ‘Markup Factor Percentage’ box.
It is also here that you can choose the Freight Supplier in the dropdown field on the right. For EasyPost leave this as ‘Default Freight’ (for reasons mentioned above)
Remember to save your changes and Clear your cache.
EasyPost and Royal Mail Notes
Royal Mail has to issue tracking code ranges on your behalf for the services you intend to use with EasyPost (e.g. Tracked 24, Tracked 48, Special Delivery Guaranteed 9am, etc).
It typically takes 5-10 business days for Royal Mail to complete this process and get the ranges set up within EasyPost.
Unfortunately, you will not be able to use Royal Mail with EasyPost until those tracking code ranges have been configured.
Before we get started on this process, we want to make sure you are aware that we only support Royal Mail OBA (Online Business Accounts).
You can register or confirm that you have an OBA account type by visiting the Royal Mail OBA portal.
Once you are ready to proceed, please email support@easypost.com to request that we start the onboarding process for your account.
Royal Mail and printIQ requirements.
Royal Mail requires a Source Contact, phone number and email address.
This is taken from the FACTORY default contact.
If any of these fields are missing the consignments will not be created.
Quoting
You will now be able to produce a quote and choose from the Easypost options. The system will pull back all options that can price the delivery and it will display the cheapest option first based on your setup rules:
Dispatching a job using Easypost
When dispatching a job from the dispatch board or job details screen, check the details and click ‘Create Consignment’:
The ‘Create Consignment’ modal will display. Check and update any details and ‘Create Consignment’:
printIQ passes the request to Easypost.
A consignment is created and the printable tickets specific for the chosen freight company come back from Easypost ready for you to printout:
In the print drop-down the labels from Easypost are shown:
These can be viewed and printed:
Back in the ‘Job Details/Dispatch’ tab you can see the consignment number and a ‘Tracking’ eyeglass:
Clicking the ’Eyeglass’ opens the ‘Tracking Information’ screen. This data is pulling the delivery status directly from Easypost.
Clicking the ‘View’ link will display the package tracking details:
Access to the ‘Tracking Consignment’ details is also available directly from the “Dispatch Board’:
Individual tracking codes are searchable on the dispatch board:
This makes it easy to locate missing packages by using the tracking code to find the relating job:
The customer facing ‘Order Summary’ screen also has access to tracking information to allow them to track the status of their jobs:
What sort of printer do I need?
The labels generated are in PDF format and can be printed from the browser directly to a locally connected thermal label printer.
There are many different types of thermal label printers in the marketplace so have a look at what printer is best for you.
Below are two different examples that we have some customers using currently.
We are not endorsing any of the products above.
Please consult with printer experts/professionals regarding which printer to use.
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